Study in Latvia For Pakistani students 2024-25

Studying in Latvia in 2024 is the best option for Pakistani students because it is an untapped country with an undiscovered market. It is a Schengen state in Europe that serves as an easy pathway to Europe for Pakistani students. Latvian is the official language, but English is also spoken there. Latvia offers admission mainly as autumn and winter intake in business administration, medical studies, and arts programs. The tuition fee ranges from 2000-15000 euros depending on your program. An IELTS score of 6.5 is mandatory, but you can study in Latvia without IELTS at some universities.

You should have to go to Abu Dhabi or some other country for visa processing because its embassy is not present in Pakistan. You can also work part-time for 20 hours/week in Latvia while studying and 40 hours/week while on vacation, earning about 700 euros per month.  The monthly expense of living in Latvia is 450 euros. You are required to have a bank statement of 5700 euros. The acceptance rate for admission to the universities of Latvia is 90%. You will also get an after-study work permit of about 9 months. You can also apply for PR after five years of stay in Latvia. 

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Benefits of Studying in Latvia

Studying in Latvia offers various benefits to Pakistani and International students. The list of some reasons to study in Latvia is here:

• Compared with European countries, Latvian universities are great places to achieve high-quality education at minimum tuition fees.
• Latvia's education system is highly ranked among international institutions. Institutions such as the University of Latvia and Riga Technical University have a quality level that follows European standards.
• Degrees issued by Latvian institutes are recognized across Europe and other continents. As a European Union member state, Latvia's education qualifications fall under the Bologna Process implementation; hence, a Pakistani student can confidently pursue education or seek jobs on the European continent.
• Latvia is part of the Schengen Area, so students can travel to 26 European countries without a visa.
• The most popular city, especially among students, is Riga. It is the capital city, and it is still much less expensive than the other major cities in Europe, which will help Pakistani students deal with their expenses much more easily.
• International students enrolled in Latvia may take part-time jobs while studying. This is a quite fruitful opportunity for the Pakistani side to enable their working experiences and finances.
• Latvia's location within the European Union makes it convenient and simple for international students to acquire access to job markets within the union.
• Latvia is one of the safest countries in Europe, making it a perfect destination for international students. Its crime rate is low, and the cities are peaceful, giving students ample time to focus on their studies and enjoy their experience without worrying about safety.

Top Scholarships in Latvia for Pakistani Students

Top scholarships in Latvia include government scholarships, scholarships provided by private institutions, and even scholarships offered by the universities for foreign students.

Government Scholarships: The Latvian government awards scholarships for international students and researchers working on the agreement of studies in summer schools.

Private Scholarships: These include Scholarships awarded by private universities like Turība University provides scholarships for international students in specific programs according to academic performance.

University Scholarships: Scholarships can also be available in other universities such as the University of Latvia and Riga Technical University based on either academic or language proficiency that are funded either by the university or external sources.

Some of the scholarships are explained below:

1. Latvian State Scholarships

It is a partially funded Government Scholarship Program provided to international students, researchers, and lecturers studying at Latvian higher education institutions. The scholarship will cover tuition fees, living costs, and a monthly living allowance of €500 (€600 in Riga city) for up to 10 months for Bachelor's and Master's students and up to 11 months for PhD students.   Note that the scholarship only covers partial expenses for studies, excluding all traveling costs.

2. Erasmus+ Master’s Program 

The Erasmus Joint Master’s Program is an international scholarship program that gives students a chance at educational pursuits from diverse European universities under one master's or even multiple degrees.  The scholarship covers participatory fees, travel, insurance, and living costs. The application must be submitted either as a bachelor's degree holder or someone who is in his final year of study. The benefits are an international high-quality qualification and a network of European academic as well as professional contacts.

3. University of Latvia Scholarship

 The University of Latvia offers funds to students with excellent academic results and minimal resources. The eligible candidates are bachelor's, master's, and doctor's degree holders admitted in a wide range of different fields. Scholarships can be submitted from the first year, with the aim that one should enjoy financial independence better to focus on studies.

4. Riga Stradins University Scholarship

The Riga Stradins University provides several scholarships, which comprise a tuition fee reduction, academic excellence award, and monetary benefits to the local as well as international students. These are given in the form of exchange programs, low-income families at a discount rate of 10% to 100% as per the student's performance, and up to 50% excellence scholarships on the tuition fees for students.

5. Turiba University Scholarship

This scholarship is for students of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-year bachelor's degree. It shall be granted based on the academic merits of the preceding year. One-year scholarships cover tuition fees as well as other costs. A Good quality application accompanied academic record and a letter of motivation with plans is required for the eligibility criteria of this scholarship.

Top Universities in Latvia for Pakistani Students

Following are the top universities of Latvia which have a great number of Pakistani and international students who want quality education as well as exposure to diversified culture:

1. University of Latvia 
2. Riga Technical University- Latvia 
3. Daugavpils University-Latvia
4. Graduate School of Law-Riga
5. Turība University-Latvia
6. Liepaja University-Latvia
7.  Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences-Latvia
8. University of Life Sciences and Technologies-Latvia
9. Art Academy of Latvia
10. Stockholm School of Economics-Riga
11. RSU(Riga Stradins University)

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1. University of Latvia 

The University of Latvia, founded in 1919 is a public university ranked in the top 600 of medicine. It comprises 13 faculties, following 148 programs; a total of 15,250 students have been enrolled there with 888 international students. It has divided faculties into Natural Sciences, Humanities and Arts, Medicine and Health Sciences, and Social Sciences. The tuition fee for the University of Latvia is 3000-8000 euros per year. It requires an IELTS score of a minimum of 5.5.

2. Riga Stradins University- Latvia 

The Riga Stradins University, initially the Riga Medical Institute established in 1950, is today one of the world's best universities concerning medical studies. RSU offers a few programs taught in English: Medical Doctor and Doctor of Dental Surgery, which take six and five years, respectively.  Completion of the Professional Master's Programme normally takes 1.5-2 years, and the tuition fee varies from €4,100 to €15 000 per year.

3. Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies

It is a public university founded in 1938, mainly specializing in agricultural and environmental sciences. It delivers a full-time, six-year Veterinarian Medicine course taught in English. This institution also offers a PhD in veterinary medicine that awards an academic title of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (PhD). Tuition for Veterinary Medicine and PhD programs will be €8,000 per year. Requirements for admissions: Secondary school certificates; Compulsory subjects in Biology and Chemistry and knowledge of the English language, preferably IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.

4. Daugavpils University-Latvia

Daugavpils University is a high-quality public university in Latvia devoted to research and academic activity that was established in 1996. The university offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs mainly focused on multilingual education and international cooperation. It accepts students from the international market at the rate of 50 % and the tuition fee is 1500 euros per year..

5. Turība University-Latvia

Turība University, a leading non-government university in Latvia established in the year 1993, is well-known for its practice-oriented education and strong relationships with the business sector. Turība University provides students at the bachelor's and master's levels with numerous courses focused on business, law, tourism, and social sciences. It requires an IELTS score of 5.5 at an acceptance rate of 60 %. Its tuition fee ranges from 3500-6000 euros per year.

Admission requirements and documents list

The following documents list is needed for Admission to Latvia Universities;

• Application for the selected program
• Photocopies of academic certificates, diplomas, and degree certificates
• A motivational letter written in English addressing the reasons for undertaking the program (2-3 pages).
• Test scores showing proficiency in English IELTS or TOEFL).
• A well-presented CV, cut down for postgraduate research programs, reflects academic and professional background.
• Valid passport for identification purposes.
• All postgraduate studies programs require a good Proposal based on a proposed research study.
• Two recommendation letters from lecturers sponsoring your application for the postgraduate course.
• Passport-size photographs are attached to the application.
• Evidence of the paid application fee from ges approximately USD 100-150 USD which is non-refundable.
• All documentation should be translated into the English language.

Visa requirements and documents for Pakistan students

• Academic transcripts
• An original  acceptance letter from the Latvian University
• Payment receipt of tuition and security deposit issued by the university, amounting to $500-$720.
• Recent passport-sized photographs.
• A valid passport that is valid for at least a period of intended stay in Latvia
• Latvian Student Resident Permit Visa application form
• The bank statement of sufficient funds is about €5700 per year or about €430 per month, issued within 15 days.
• Accommodation proof
• At least €30,000 health insurance
• Medical clearance certificate
• Character Certificate
• The visa application fee is about $ 120 
• Proof of English proficiency, such as IELTS or TOEFL.
• Latvia visa approval rate for all Pakistani students applying is more than 90%.

Cost of living in Latvia for Pakistani students

Living in Latvia is much easy for a Pakistani student in comparison to most of the Western countries. In most cases, the living expenses for a student would range between 400 € and 600 € per month. A typical student or shared apartment rent usually ranges between 150 € and 300 €. Groceries and eating out costs range between 150 to 200 euros a month, while other public transportation is extremely cheap with monthly passes averaging at €30.

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Part-time working hours and income

Latvia permits international students to work part-time while studying. Generally, it is supposed that they work no more than 20 hours a week within an academic year and full-time during holidays. The average hourly rate seems to be something from €5 to €10. That would make between €400 to €800 monthly.

Work permits and future opportunities for Pakistani students 

After the study completion, Pakistani students can get a work permit in Latvia and they can start working and finding jobs in their respective areas of specialization. Students can use their education and practice to look for jobs in the European Union. Latvia's work permit also enables graduates to work in the other EU countries. Networking during study periods and internships significantly increases the chances of acquiring a job.